22 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXI, No. i 
The subsequent fall in temperature can be ascribed partly to the fact 
that the temperature of the feed is lower than that of the body, thus 
tending to lower somewhat the temperature of the latter, and partly 
to the natural tendency of the body temperature to drop after a stimu¬ 
lated rise. 
The act of defecation did not produce any effect. 
The highest rectal temperature obtained during these observations 
was 102.4 0 F. (fig. 16), while the lowest was 101.2 0 (fig. 28). The 
highest vaginal temperature obtained was 102 °, while the lowest was 
IOI.° 
The rectal temperature at 6 p. m. fluctuates in all cases, except in 
one (fig. 28), between 101.5 0 and 102° F. 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN POSITION ON BODY TEM¬ 
PERATURE 
It is an established fact that an animal produces more heat when 
standing than when lying. This being the case, one might, therefore, 
Fig. 29. —Temperature curve of cow 886 for January 5, 1920, 8.20 p. m. to 5 p. m., including effects of 
change in position. At 8.20 a. m. lying; 8.40 a. m. drank 13.6 kgm. of water at 50° F.; 9 a. m. just 
lay down; 9 a. m. to 10.30 a. m. lying; 10.31 a. m. forced to get up; 10.50 a. m. immediately before 
defecating; 10.54 a. m. immediately after defecating; 11.06 a. m. lying since 10.57 a. m.; 11.15 a. m. 
still lying; 11.24 a* up since 11.20 a. m.; 11.36 a. m. still up; 2 p. m. just lay down; 2.02 p. m. forced 
to get up; 2.06 p. m. up since 2.02 p. m.; 2.24 p. m. down since 2.20 p. m.; 4.45 p. m. down since 4 
p. m.; 4.48 p. m. forced to get up; 5 p. m. immediately after defecating. 
expect some changes in the temperature of the body when the animal 
changes its position. Although the position of the animal was noted 
in the previous observations, the changes were not frequent enough to 
show any effect. The following observations were made chiefly with 
the view of studying the possible effects on the body temperature that 
may arise from a forced or voluntary change in position. 
Figure 29 represents observations made on the rectal temperature of 
cow 886 on January 5, 1920, from 8.20 a. m. to 5 p. m. 
The most striking features of the curve are the sudden fluctuations 
between 10.50 a. m. and 11.24 a - m -> a *id between 2 p. m. and 2.20 p. m. 
The accelerated fall in temperature (effect of the water) from 10.57 a « m - 
